BEIRUT: Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad Osseiri called on the Lebanese over the weekend to “immunize” their country against any surprises.
“Saudi Arabia plays a positive role in Lebanon and is keen on preserving the country’s unity,” he said.
Syria’s Ambassador Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, meanwhile, said the unity of the Lebanese will safeguard their country.
Speaking to politicians and crowds in the rural north Lebanon district of Akkar, Osseiri said his country was “closely following up” on developments on the Lebanese political scene.
Asked about the repercussions of the indictment to be issued by the UN-backed tribunal probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Osseiri said he was confident that the Lebanese would work for the best interest of their country.
“We call on all the Lebanese to immunize their country against any surprises,” said the Saudi ambassador.
The country has been caught in a standoff over the indictment to be pronounced by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Hizbullah announced that the court was moving toward indicting “rogue” members of the party and slammed the STL as an Israeli project.
Last week, the party’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on the Lebanese to boycott the tribunal, adding that anyone who cooperated with the STL would be considered an agent.
Osseiri said the Saudi monarch devoted time to ensure that Lebanese ranks are kept united, adding that King Abdullah considered the “Lebanese internal front to be strong.”
“[King Abdullah] sees that the Lebanese should adopt dialogue as a means to solve all their problems so that Lebanon can be strong and safeguarded against attempts to weaken the country or sow divisions among the Lebanese,” said Osseiri.
The Saudi ambassador had started a tour of north Lebanon Friday by visiting the coastal city of Tripoli, where he met prominent political and religious leaders there.
The Saudi ambassador had started a tour of north Lebanon Friday by visiting the coastal city of Tripoli, where he met prominent political and religious leaders there.
Osseiri headed to Akkar Saturday, one of Lebanon’s most impoverished regions, where he met the lawmakers of the district and residents.
“I am planning to visit the four corners of Lebanon to get to know the people of this country,” he said.
Osseiri said his visit to various Lebanese regions aimed to spread a “message of unity.” “[Saudi Arabia] hopes that the next [Lebanese] generations will not inherit animosity and hatred and move away from divisions,” he said.
Saudi Arabia and Syria are considered Lebanon’s main powerbrokers. A tension in ties, or conversely a rapprochement between the two Arab countries clearly reflects on the situation in Lebanon.
Also speaking over the weekend, the Syrian Ambassador said Lebanon and Syria were united by the same challenges and goals. “National entente and dialogue are the guarantee to unity, civil peace, sovereignty, independence, and freedom,” Ali told a luncheon in the Iqlim al-Kharoub town of Jieh.
Ali highlighted that inter-Lebanese dialogue was key to protecting Lebanon, “that we cherish and hope will remain strong and healthy.”
The Syrian ambassador said Israel should not be allowed the opportunity to boast that it has intercepted Lebanon’s telecommunications network in a bid to target Lebanon’s steadfastness and resistance. –The Daily Star
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